The Rejected Mate

Chapter 122

122

Arielle's POV

I have to find a way to leave this hellhole. I don't even know how Ryan's faring without me. I wish Alaric would understand my feelings for him. I love him so much, which is why I got closer to Ryan, but his jealousy won't let him show pure emotions around me.

I wish he would come back to his senses and accept me. Despite doing it for the pack, I can't wrap my head around him without thinking about him. I adore him so much that I can't get him out of my head.

"What's making you smile?" the lady close to me inquired as she raised her cuffs so she could get closer to me. I wondered why she wanted to have a conversation with me.

"I don't think you want to know why. It's my private affairs."

"We're in this hellhole, and you're smiling. Whatever is making you smile can make me smile too amidst all these dangers we're facing, the constant visits to that place, the torture we endure at the hands of that monster, those masked figures, the soldiers. And after everything, you still manage a smile on your face. Don't keep me waiting; I need to know why you're smiling." She was persistent. I couldn't bring myself to trust anyone in this dungeon.

Everyone has their own personal ambitions, and you don't know if the person you're entrusting yourself to has the ambition of killing you afterwards. I need to do this alone, and doing it alone would save me the stress of having loopholes in my plan.

"It's the thoughts of the man I love; that's exactly what made me smile."

"Everyone loves someone here, so why is yours different? He hasn't realized it yet, has he?" She understood my reaction—a character trait that I admired, telling people's thoughts by their reactions.

"How did you know?"

"Well, I know a lot of things, young lady, and you're still young as well. So it's safe to say that you love him so much, and who knows, he loves you too. But you're both under some sort of agreement, which makes it hard for either of you to confess your feelings," she divulged.

"Are you reading my thoughts?"

"Not really, but I could tell from the look on your face. It's my lucky guess." She chuckled. I knew she didn't want anyone to know about her gift.

"Gifted Lunas are rare to find these days, so don't go flaunting your gift as you please, or you might find yourself in a deep hole in those stone rooms beneath us," I advised her.

"You think I don't know that? Why would you even say that? I've been here longer than you, so I know what goes on in here. Despite how hard I tried to understand their mode of operation, it seems they change it every two days." I was glad that we were speaking in whispers, so it would be easy to get some tips from her on how to go about my plan.

"How did you know that?" I inquired.

"Every two days, the man who stands on the right goes back to the entrance of the hall. I slipped a red ribbon in his pocket for identification, and after two days, he wasn't at the same post, which indicates rotation. That can only explain why no one escapes this hellhole." She spoke like she had tried escaping before and it hadn't worked.

"If you understand this, why haven't you tried escaping through those tunnels?"

"Why would I be the first to try that? I have to be certain that it's safe. Some Alphas and Generals tried using those tunnels, but we haven't heard whether they were successful or not, so that is still under consideration." She sighed.

She wasn't scared, but she was worried.

"My husband and I were captured on our way to deliver a treaty to an Alpha who spared our lives and allowed us to rule our pack. He helped us rebuild the pack that he destroyed, but in return, we pay treaties of gold, grains, and weapons. And these people have a lot of weapons, so I don't know if it's safe to say that they're the ones doing this, but trust me—if they are, we have to find a way to learn their schemes and use them against them so we can leave and warn the others. Whatever those experiments are, I'm certain they're not good for us, and even for the generations to come, so it has to end." She spoke like she had her plan in motion and was just waiting for the right pieces to put it together.

I was about to ask her when the other ladies joined us in the cell. It seemed everyone had their own plans buried in their heads.

The ladies who joined us were trying to have a conversation, but my ears were sharp enough to listen in on every word they said.

"Do you have what you need?" she asked her friend, who seemed focused on whatever she had in her hands. I couldn't see what it was since their bodies were all around each other.

"Of course I took it. I had no choice, and I'm certain this would work and help us get out of here." She heaved a deep sigh as she shoved it through her thighs; it looked like they were going to use it.

"Are you certain that this would work?" The look on her face was flushed. I could tell that she was pleased and scared at the same time—her sweaty palms. She squeezed it so hard because she was nervous, and it amused me to a certain point.

"This would hinder their plans and stop them from this killing spree. We're not just lambs sent to a slaughterhouse. It has to come to an end. They think we're weak just because we're women. I'll show them what a true Luna is made of—the guts, the strength, and the will are all embedded in a Luna, as well as in an Alpha." She patted her friend's shoulders, trying to ease her emotions.

What could they be hiding? It could be something useful. On second thought, I should not think about what they have and just figure out a way to leave this pack on my own. I can't wait to get back to Alaric; I miss him so much—the way he stares at me. It's so intriguing. I hope to see you soon, Alaric.

"But do you think that those rogues are controlling the Alphas as well? I mean, they're Alphas. What happens to their packs? They're not safe, and they're down there. They should have planned their escape and gone on with it." The nervous one seemed calm after her friend convinced her that whatever they had would take them out.

"Yeah, you're right about their packs being abandoned. They would be vulnerable to exploration and exploitation by the rogues..." She paused, cleared her throat, and continued.

"Of course they are. I heard some tried to escape, and a man who was in there tried to stop them, but they were too proud to listen. The rogues caught them and taught them a lesson. The one who tried to stop him is pretty popular among the male prisoners; his name is Alaric."

"Alaric!!!"